General Motors' first attempt at building a car-based minivan met
with six years of dismal sales. It tried to excite customers with a
shocking wedge-shaped body that resulted in lost functionality and
versatility, the very reasons why minivans are so popular.

Its second try is much closer to what makes minivans appealing. This
week we test the Pontiac Trans Sport Montana, a sporty version of GM's
trio of new front-wheel-drive people-carriers.

OUTSIDE - The Trans Sport's styling theme has finally gone
mainstream. General Motors has scrapped the previous model's bold
futuristic styling and plastic body in favor of a more conservative look
made with all steel panels. It is available in short (112-inch) or long
(120-inch) wheelbases, with an optional driver's-side sliding rear door.
The previous model's power open-and-close feature on the passenger side
rear door remains an option and really comes in handy. Pontiac expects
that 60 percent of all Trans Sports sold will be of the extended length,
and 80 percent of those will have the fourth door option. Our test
Montana version is the sportiest model, and wears five-spoke alloy
wheels with raised white letter tires, two-tone paint and a large
luggage rack on the roof.

INSIDE - Clearly, much thought went into the new interior design,
and Trans Sport now has a car-like dashboard and controls, with
dramatically improved outward vision and ergonomics. The standard
seven-passenger seating arrangement is available four different ways,
using either bucket or bench seats, or as an eight-passenger hauler with
two buckets seats up front, three buckets in the middle row, and a
three-across bench seat in back. All rear and middle seats fold down and
are removable. Also there are "cubby" holes everywhere, as well as 17
places to park beverages. Even base models comes with air conditioning,
an AM/FM stereo, and power door locks and outside mirrors, but our
Montana was loaded with such items as power windows, power sliding side
door, power driver's seat, stereo upgrade, and an overhead console.

ON THE ROAD - Trans Sport uses a quiet 3.4 liter V6 engine that
produces 180 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque. It's quite responsive
and offers lots of pep, even with design limitations for the new
vehicle, which forced GM engineers to cease using the larger 3.8 liter
version, optional in the last generation Trans Sports. But the new
powertrain created space for more interior room at only a modest drop in
torque over the previous engine. When properly equipped, its towing
capacity of 3500 pounds is very respectable. The sole transmission is an
electronically-controlled four speed automatic, with overdrive gearing
and a lockup torque converter. We averaged around 21 mpg over the week,
although on long, frugal highway jaunts, we were able to squeeze nearly
28 mpg, along with a near 600-mile full-tank range.

BEHIND THE WHEEL - Trans Sport rides on all-new suspension, which
features new L-shaped lower front controls arms, with bushings designed
to manage separate tasks, along with repositioned coil springs and a new
hollow stabilizer bar. The rear shock absorbers have also been relocated
to provide more space inside the vehicle. The Montana version uses
stiffer suspension components than lesser model Trans Sports, and gives
a ride that is quite nimble for a minivan. Automatic level control is
part of the Montana package, and features an auxiliary air pump which
will not only automatically keep the vehicle at a level plane with a
full load inside, but can also be used to inflate sun sports toys such
as beach balls and inner tubes. The Montana package also features
traction control, which uses electronic controls to limit wheelspin on
slippery surfaces like ice and snow, and self-sealing tires. Braking is
achieved with front disc and rear drum bakes, while the four-wheel
anti-lock braking system (ABS) is standard on all versions.

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